Dataset Information

Testing the habituation assumption underlying models of parasitoid foraging behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Habituation, a form of non-associative learning, has several well-defined characteristics that apply to a wide range of physiological and behavioral responses in many organisms. In classic patch time allocation models, habituation is considered to be a major mechanistic component of parasitoid behavioral strategies. However, parasitoid behavioral responses to host cues have not previously been tested for the known, specific characteristics of habituation.

Methods

In the laboratory, we tested whether the foraging behavior of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis shows specific characteristics of habituation in response to consecutive encounters with patches of host (Nezara viridula) chemical contact cues (footprints), in particular: (i) a training interval-dependent decline in response intensity, and (ii) a training interval-dependent recovery of the response.

Results

As would be expected of a habituated response, wasps trained at higher frequencies decreased their behavioral response to host footprints more quickly and to a greater degree than those trained at low frequencies, and subsequently showed a more rapid, although partial, recovery of their behavioral response to host footprints. This putative habituation learning could not be blocked by cold anesthesia, ingestion of an ATPase inhibitor, or ingestion of a protein synthesis inhibitor.

Discussion

Our study provides support for the assumption that diminishing responses of parasitoids to chemical indicators of host presence constitutes habituation as opposed to sensory fatigue, and provides a preliminary basis for exploring the underlying mechanisms.

SUBMITTER: Abram PK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5357337 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Testing the habituation assumption underlying models of parasitoid foraging behavior.

Abram Paul K PK Cusumano Antonino A Abram Katrina K Colazza Stefano S Peri Ezio E

PeerJ 20170316

<h4>Background</h4>Habituation, a form of non-associative learning, has several well-defined characteristics that apply to a wide range of physiological and behavioral responses in many organisms. In classic patch time allocation models, habituation is considered to be a major mechanistic component of parasitoid behavioral strategies. However, parasitoid behavioral responses to host cues have not previously been tested for the known, specific characteristics of habituation.<h4>Methods</h4>In the ...[more]

PMID: 28321365

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Project description:Dynamic conditions in nature have led to the evolution of behavioural traits that allow animals to use information on local circumstances and adjust their behaviour accordingly, for example through learning. Although learning can improve foraging efficiency, the learned information can become unreliable as the environment continues to change. This could lead to potential fitness costs when memories holding such unreliable information persist. Indeed, persistent unreliable memory was found to reduce the foraging efficiency of the parasitoid Cotesia glomerata under laboratory conditions. Here, we evaluated the effect of such persistent unreliable memory on the foraging behaviour of C. glomerata in the field. This is a critical step in studies of foraging theory, since animal behaviour evolved under the complex conditions present in nature. Existing methods provide little detail on how parasitoids interact with their environment in the field, therefore we developed a novel multi-camera system that allowed us to trace parasitoid foraging behaviour in detail. With this multi-camera system, we studied how persistent unreliable memory affected the foraging behaviour of C. glomerata when these memories led parasitoids to plants infested with non-host caterpillars in a semi-field set-up. Our results demonstrate that persistent unreliable memory can lead to maladaptive foraging behaviour in C. glomerata under field conditions and increased the likelihood of oviposition in the non-host caterpillar Mamestra brassica. Furthermore, these time- and egg-related costs can be context dependent, since they rely on the plant species used. These results provide us with new insight on how animals use previously obtained information in naturally complex and dynamic foraging situations and confirm that costs and benefits of learning depend on the environment animals forage in. Although behavioural studies of small animals in natural habitats remain challenging, novel methods such as our multi-camera system contribute to understanding the nuances of animal foraging behaviour.

Dataset Information

Testing the habituation assumption underlying models of parasitoid foraging behavior.

Background

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

Testing the habituation assumption underlying models of parasitoid foraging behavior.

Similar Datasets

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